“NBA 2K14” (PS4) Review

In our review of the current or, rather, last generation version of NBA 2K14, I plainly said it was the best basketball game available, but it might not be worth the $60 simply because the PS4/Xbox One iterations might be better. Now basketball fans can rest assured knowing the next generation versions of NBA 2K14 are, indeed, the best basketball games available.

What Is It?

Previous sports game debuts on next generation consoles featured bare-boned gameplay. When looking at the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 release of Madden NFL 06 and comparing it to Madden NFL 06 on the PlayStation 2, Xbox, and GameCube, the newer generation iterations simply paled in comparison. They couldn’t even be talked about in the same sentence as the previous generation’s iteration.

With NBA 2K14, that absolutely isn’t the case. NBA 2K14 on the PlayStation 4 doesn’t only look better, it plays better and simply does more. It’s not the gigantic step NBA fans might want, but it does solidify itself as a solid launch purchase for anybody picking up a next-gen console this holiday.

Why Should I Care?

If you’re a huge LeBron James fan and are only interested in NBA 2K14 because of LeBron’s Path to Greatness mode, well, that’s gone.

As a fan of LeBron myself, that sucks, I know.

On the other hand, it’s been replaced with a mode that more people can definitely appreciate. When first booting up the game after initial installation, like the previous generation, you’re immediately encouraged to make your own avatar. This guy acts as both the GM in MyGM and the player in MyPlayer, which have been geared to definitely please more basketball fans.

The new Association mode MyGM, not surprisingly, puts players in the shoes of a new NBA general manager. But unlike Madden NFL‘s Connected Franchise mode, it’s a whole lot more than just menus. You actually get to see the conversations and negotiations take place. Much like an RPG, you’ll get to see reactions from the owner and other players with every action you take. Both guys I use in MyGM and MyPlayer have sort of a cocky persona, and it’s really led to quite a few hilarious antics in and out of the locker room and meeting rooms.

You can look like a clown in press conferences as a general manager, and you can be hazed by veterans well past their prime in MyPlayer. NBA 2K14‘s parody of what goes on behind the court is almost reminiscent of some scenes in the Grand Theft Auto games–just nowhere as crazy. Throw in the fact that every person’s face in the game is mapped with different emotions, and you have quite the authentic presentation.

What Makes It Worth My Time And Money?

As cool as the single player modes are, most of the fun you’ll have playing NBA 2K14 of course will happen on the court. The game plays just as well as it did on the PS3 and Xbox 360, but it feels just a bit more crisp.

The game also gives you a bit more flexibility with strategies during timeouts or on the fly. On offense you can choose options that’ll force your players to attack the rim and play the perimeter among other options, while on defense you can key in on a single player or totally make it so nothing happens inside.

It’s all about playing the way you want to play it, which is all fine because in MyPlayer, the game will also criticize your play style. Since MyPlayer is really more about yourself than the team, you’ll find yourself hogging the ball more, but in actuality, it’s really all about just doing your job on the court. Unless you literally lose a game on your player’s accord, the guys in the locker room won’t mess with you. NBA 2K14 just takes everything from the previous generation, and then gives you a little bit more.

We seriously can’t wait until 2K15 and 2K16 when the developers decide to give us a lot more.

In our review of the current or, rather, last generation version of NBA 2K14, I plainly said it was the best basketball game available, but it might not be worth the $60 simply because the PS4/Xbox One iterations might be better. Now…

In our review of the current or, rather, last generation version of NBA 2K14, I plainly said it was the best basketball game available, but it might not be worth the $60 simply because the PS4/Xbox One iterations might be better. Now basketball fans can rest assured knowing the next generation versions of NBA 2K14 are, indeed, the best basketball games available.

What Is It?

Previous sports game debuts on next generation consoles featured bare-boned gameplay. When looking at the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 release of Madden NFL 06 and comparing it to Madden NFL 06 on the PlayStation 2, Xbox, and GameCube, the newer generation iterations simply paled in comparison. They couldn’t even be talked about in the same sentence as the previous generation’s iteration.

With NBA 2K14, that absolutely isn’t the case. NBA 2K14 on the PlayStation 4 doesn’t only look better, it plays better and simply does more. It’s not the gigantic step NBA fans might want, but it does solidify itself as a solid launch purchase for anybody picking up a next-gen console this holiday.

Why Should I Care?

If you’re a huge LeBron James fan and are only interested in NBA 2K14 because of LeBron’s Path to Greatness mode, well, that’s gone.

As a fan of LeBron myself, that sucks, I know.

On the other hand, it’s been replaced with a mode that more people can definitely appreciate. When first booting up the game after initial installation, like the previous generation, you’re immediately encouraged to make your own avatar. This guy acts as both the GM in MyGM and the player in MyPlayer, which have been geared to definitely please more basketball fans.

The new Association mode MyGM, not surprisingly, puts players in the shoes of a new NBA general manager. But unlike Madden NFL‘s Connected Franchise mode, it’s a whole lot more than just menus. You actually get to see the conversations and negotiations take place. Much like an RPG, you’ll get to see reactions from the owner and other players with every action you take. Both guys I use in MyGM and MyPlayer have sort of a cocky persona, and it’s really led to quite a few hilarious antics in and out of the locker room and meeting rooms.

You can look like a clown in press conferences as a general manager, and you can be hazed by veterans well past their prime in MyPlayer. NBA 2K14‘s parody of what goes on behind the court is almost reminiscent of some scenes in the Grand Theft Auto games–just nowhere as crazy. Throw in the fact that every person’s face in the game is mapped with different emotions, and you have quite the authentic presentation.

What Makes It Worth My Time And Money?

As cool as the single player modes are, most of the fun you’ll have playing NBA 2K14 of course will happen on the court. The game plays just as well as it did on the PS3 and Xbox 360, but it feels just a bit more crisp.

The game also gives you a bit more flexibility with strategies during timeouts or on the fly. On offense you can choose options that’ll force your players to attack the rim and play the perimeter among other options, while on defense you can key in on a single player or totally make it so nothing happens inside.

It’s all about playing the way you want to play it, which is all fine because in MyPlayer, the game will also criticize your play style. Since MyPlayer is really more about yourself than the team, you’ll find yourself hogging the ball more, but in actuality, it’s really all about just doing your job on the court. Unless you literally lose a game on your player’s accord, the guys in the locker room won’t mess with you. NBA 2K14 just takes everything from the previous generation, and then gives you a little bit more.

We seriously can’t wait until 2K15 and 2K16 when the developers decide to give us a lot more.